PLAYfest: Puppetry, Laughs, And You!

Theater in the Open is bringing some of our favorite clowns and puppeteers to our own backyard for a weekend of fun. Join us for PLAYfest – our brand-new festival featuring puppetry, laughter, and YOU! And, because it's Theater in the Open, all performances are presented pay-what-you-will, because we want everyone to be able to come and play – no strings attached. Click on the titles below to reserve your tickets — all shows are presented at The Gatekeeper’s House in Maudslay State Park.

Festival Schedule

Whipped Up -- A Play for Babies | September 12 at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Whipped Up! follows an eager-to-please 50's-style diner server on their first day on the job - where the baby is the customer, and caregivers are along for the ride. As the server waits on their "demanding" clientele (imagine babies doing what babies do best - creating adorable chaos!) the server grows increasingly frazzled - and more and more entertaining! Stimulating for tiny audience members, and hilarious for parents/adults. This play is uniquely designed for babies 0 - 2 years old.  Older siblings, 3 - 4 years, tend to get jealous and try to steal the fun, so we recommend they sit this one out and watch the rest of our PLAYfest!

Fettuccina & The Stork | September 12 at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Fettuccina is Back! From the minds behind TITO's beloved Petrushka & The Caterpillar, this bran new work features the delightful clowing work of Gwynnethe Glickman. Join Fettuccina on a whimsical adventure filled with puppetry, stilt work, and circus-inspired storytelling, including a mysterious globe that grows larger as the story unfolds.

To the Moon & Back | September 13 at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM
“To the Moon and Back reaches back to an era when children’s programming spoke to adults and children alike, taking the child seriously and reminding the adult how to use their imagination.” ‘To the Moon and Back’ is a charming, silly, all-ages circus show with a handmade set and a creative, problem-solving adventure story. Two clowns are out for a day of fishing, when they find themselves in a peculiar situation… the moon has fallen from the sky, and they must find a way to put it back! This 45 minute show, jam-packed with juggling, acrobatics, comedy, puppets (and even a rocket ship!) has delighted audiences of all ages.